The Sarganserland electoral district is an administrative unit of the canton of St. Gallen and comprises the municipalities of Sargans, Vilters-Wangs, Bad Ragaz, Pfäfers, Mels, Flums, Walenstadt and Quarten. Its elevation ranges from 419 to 3,239 metres above sea level. For planning your trip, it helps to group excursions by their character: a high-alpine hike, a gorge and thermal spring, or a cultural and museum visit. This lets you shape your days around the experiences that matter to you, rather than automatically combining different activities into one itinerary.
Lake Walen, Chapfensee and Tamina Gorge
On the northern shore of Lake Walen, the steeply rising Churfirsten mountains form the boundary; the deep-blue lake and rock faces are reminiscent of a Norwegian fjord. Chapfensee above Mels offers a different perspective on the landscape: it lies at 1,030 metres above sea level and has a circular trail and several fire pits. This gives you a choice of different ways to enjoy the outdoors, from views of the lake and cliffs to a walk around the water.
Tamina Gorge is a 750-metre-long and 70-metre-deep fissure in the rock. Thermal water emerges from the rock here at 36.5 degrees. The Old Bath Pfäfers is considered Switzerland’s oldest surviving Baroque bathhouse. From there, a secured path runs 450 metres through the gorge to the spring-water grotto. The Old Bath Pfäfers is accessible only by postbus, horse-drawn carriage or on foot; transport services are seasonal, and access conditions may also depend on the season or weather. Guided tours for individuals and groups go through the museum and Tamina Gorge to the spring. Check availability before travelling.
Mountain hikes to suit your preferences and itinerary
The 5-Lakes Hike on Pizol passes five crystal-clear mountain lakes and offers views of the Sardona UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a seasonal high-alpine route with three strenuous ascents and descents, as well as scree and rocky sections. Hiking boots with good tread are essential; check trail conditions before setting out. These details make the character of the hike clear: it is more of a challenging day in the mountains than a casual stroll.
The Garmil high-altitude hike is part of the 4-Peaks Tour on Pizol, is 6.6 kilometres long and takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes. There are information boards along parts of the route; from the summit, you can see the surrounding mountains and Sarganserland. The 7-Peaks Hike on Flumserberg offers a different focus: it starts at Maschgenkamm and leads over seven peaks back to Tannenboden. The route and lift operations are seasonal. For the Garmil route, the approximate duration helps with time planning; for the 7-Peaks Hike, the starting point and the route over seven peaks are the key planning details.
If you would like to combine exercise with nature and history, the Rohan red deer adventure trail, GeoGalerie and Alpine Flora Trail on Flumserberg offer light physical activity alongside information about local nature and the region’s history. GeoGalerie provides insights into the formation of the Alps and covers fossils and weathering phenomena. This sets these activities apart from the explicitly high-alpine and strenuous sections of the 5-Lakes Hike.
History and cultural experiences
Sargans Castle was built from 1100 onwards by the Counts of Werdenberg-Sargans; the small town of Sargans was established around 1250. The Sarganserland Museum in the castle presents the region’s history. Exhibition topics include geology, mining at Gonzen and iron smelting in Sarganserland. The rooms also show traces of construction spanning 900 years. The cultural region’s historical development was shaped by its former inclusion in the County of Sargans in the 13th to 15th centuries and later in the Swiss Confederacy’s bailiwick of Sargans as a common territory in the 15th to 18th centuries.
The Gonzen Mine also offers a glimpse into the history of work underground. It is a cultural asset of national importance and has around 90 kilometres of tunnels and galleries; the mining museum is dedicated to the work of miners. Public tours of the iron mine for individuals and small groups are offered on set dates; dates may change. Film screenings and visits to the mining museum are available by phone appointment. Check the details before your visit.
At the Drachenloch Museum in Vättis, the focus is on Stone Age cave bear bones from Drachenloch and documents from the excavation period of 1917 to 1923. The Vättis Visitor Centre explains the connection between earthquakes and mountain formation; its attractions include live broadcasts of recordings from seismic stations operated by the Swiss Seismological Service. This allows you to discover cultural history and geological topics in different ways.
The Paxmal on Walenstadtberg is a peace monument by artist Karl Bickel. It is freely accessible from spring to autumn; from there, you can enjoy views of the Churfirsten and Lake Walen, although visibility depends on the weather. The short section of the Schrina Alpine and Culture Trail leads from the Paxmal to Alp Schrina and is suitable for strollers. Trail conditions and signs may change. The trail thus offers a different kind of outing from a high-alpine summit hike.
A break with regional specialities
The seasonal 5-Lakes Picnic on Pizol combines the 5-Lakes Hike with a backpack full of regional specialities. These include Bio-Heidiland cheese, a crusty bread ring from a bakery, Salsiz from a local butcher and sweet treats; contents may vary depending on the season or provider. Another combination of walking and tasting is the Lake Walen backpack wine tasting. It starts at the Seehof Hotel Restaurant in Walenstadt, includes three wines from different wineries and follows an easy 2.2-kilometre route. Offer details may change.
Discover more destinations: Flumserberg, Oberterzen, Sargans, Bad Ragaz, Tannenheim, Flums, Pfäfers, Quinten, Vättis, Walenstadt, Vilters-Wangs, Mels, Quarten.
For the higher-level travel overview: St. Gallen.
